Collar protection apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A shirt collar protection apparatus for protecting a shirt collar of a wearer, the shirt collar having an upper edge, the apparatus comprising: a collar protector having a shape adapted to protect the shirt collar at the wearer&#39;s neck and at the upper edge; wherein the collar protector is formable of one piece of material.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the current invention are related to clothing and specifically to a shirt collar protection apparatus and method addressing maintenance of collar cleanliness and prevention of collar staining.

When wearing a shirt having a collar, it is desirable that the inside of the collar be stain free and clean—reflecting an aesthetic and overall clean appearance of the wearer. Especially when a shirt is worn having a white or lighter color, there is a problem of the collar being visibly stained with wear, due to perspiration, for example. Frequently, laundering the shirt requires extra attention in an attempt to remove discoloration from this typical stain-prone location. At times, even after laundering, such a stain may not be completely removed, presenting a problem.

Examples of prior art relative to this problem follow hereinbelow. Smith, in U.S. Patent Application 20080301848, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a collar protecting tape apparatus and dispensing system for protecting the interior surface of a garment collar, comprising a semi-visible adhesive strip of dimensions to protect a collar.

In U.S. Patent Application 20040148678, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, Spears describes a disposable auxiliary collar element made of disposable material, such as heavy gauge fibrous material adapted to be positioned on the integral collar of a garment to present a normal appearance when the garment is worn. Depending upon the degree of soiling, it may be reused or discarded at the end of a wearing. In one embodiment, the device is held in position by adhesive. In another embodiment it is maintained in position by a member extending below the garment collar.

Maggs, in U.S. Patent Application 20080229472, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a collar protector comprising patch mount that is attached to the back portion of a shirt collar. A collar shield removeably attaches to the patch mount and covers a back portion of a wearer's neck preventing staining and discoloration of the shirt's collar. As the collar shield becomes stained, it is replaced with a new one keeping the shirt from being soiled. In one embodiment, a hook and loop attachment system is used to removeably attach the collar shield to the patch mount. In one embodiment, the collar shield is made of a fabric that matches the shirt.

Lomas, in U.S. Patent Application 20060021108, by Lomas, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a thin breathable material affixed to a collared shirt. The breathable material is affixed with an affixing mechanism. The material is disposable and reusable. The affixing mechanism is adhered on one side of the collar.

In international patent application No. PCT/GB2009/05147, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, Shannon describes a collar protector comprising a first elongate portion which is shaped to match an inside band of a collar and a second elongate portion which is generally shaped to match an outside surface of a collar. The collar protector may comprise a plurality of foldable tabs to detachably secure the collar protector to a collar. The second elongate portion may be coated with a reagent which promotes blood clotting.

In the prior art mentioned above, there remains a need to address the problem of staining in a cost effective and convenient manner.

Among various shortcomings of the prior art are:

-   -   Need to permanently or semi-permanently attach a piece of fabric         or other “patch” onto which to adhere the prior art collar         protector;     -   Limited protection to a narrow internal portion of the         collar/shirt contacting the wearer's neck;     -   Cost advantages: The addition of attachment pieces and other         arrangements increases the cost of a collar protector.

There is therefore a need for an alternative collar protection apparatus that can effectively address the problem of shirt collar staining and to protect a larger area of the shirt collar in a cost effective and convenient manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided a shirt collar protection apparatus for protecting a shirt collar of a wearer, the shirt collar having an upper edge, the apparatus comprising: a collar protector having a shape adapted to protect the shirt collar at a surface touching the wearer's neck and at the upper edge; wherein the collar protector is formable of one piece of material. Preferably, the collar protector has a grasping lip which is attachable directly to the shirt collar. Most preferably, the collar protector is adherable to the shirt collar by means of a sticky surface on the collar protector. Typically, the collar protector is made of a material chosen from the list including: polyethylene (PE); cotton; and polyester. Most typically, the collar protector is substantially transparent. Preferably, the collar protector has a color matching that of the shirt collar. Most preferably, the collar protector is imprintable with a visible logo.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is further provided a method of using a shirt collar protection apparatus for protecting a shirt collar of a wearer, the shirt collar having an upper edge, comprising the steps of: shaping a first collar protector from one piece to protect the shirt collar at the wearer's neck and at the upper edge of the shirt collar; attaching the first collar protector to the shirt collar using a grasping lip of the shirt collar; and replacing the first collar protector with another color protector when the first color protector is soiled. Preferably, the collar protector is adhered to the shirt collar by means of a sticky surface on the collar protector. Most preferably, the collar protector is made of a material chosen from the list including: polyethylene (PE); cotton; and polyester. Typically, the collar protector is substantially transparent. Most typically, the collar protector has a color matching that of the shirt collar. Preferably, the collar protector is imprintable with a visible logo.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND APPENDICES

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B are pictorial representations of a typical shirt collar and of a collar protector, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of the collar of FIGS. 2A and 2B and of another collar protector, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of the collar protector of FIGS. 2A and 2B and collar protector 20 of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B are pictorial representations of the shirt collar and collar protector, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the current invention are related to clothing and specifically to a shirt collar protection apparatus and method addressing maintenance of collar cleanliness and prevention of collar staining.

Reference is presently made to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B which are pictorial representations of a typical shirt collar 10 having a surface 11 normally in contact with the wearer's neck and of a collar protector 15, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. In one embodiment of the current invention, collar protector 15 is substantially transparent and is formed of one piece of material. Optionally or alternatively, collar protector 15 has a color/design matching that of shirt collar 10. Collar protector does not allow perspiration and oils to pass through to the shirt collar at surface 11, while additionally protecting an upper edge 16 of shirt collar 10 from additional staining. The material of the collar protector is inexpensive—such as, but not limited to: polyethylene (PE); cotton; and polyester—and collar protector 15 can be discarded after being worn for a few hours, for example. The shape of collar protector 15 allows it to be conveniently adhered and/or attached directly to shirt collar 10, as shown in the figures. In addition to methods to adhere the collar protector known in the art, including a sticky surface with removable tape, collar protector 15 may be attached to shirt collar by means of the integral shape of the collar protector itself, which affords a grasping lip 17 to attach the of collar protector to upper edge 16 of the shirt collar. Additionally or optionally, collar protector 15 may attach to shirt collar 10 by means of the semi-rigid form of the collar protector 15, as shown in the figures, which has a bias against shirt collar 10, thereby holding the collar protector 15 in place when the collar protector is attached to the shirt collar.

Reference is presently made to FIG. 3, which is a pictorial representation of the collar of FIGS. 2A and 2B and of another collar protector 20, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. Collar protector 20 is formed from a wider piece of the same or similar material used in collar protector 15 of the previous figures. The functionality and features of collar protector 20 are similar to those of collar protector 15.

Reference is presently made to FIG. 4, which is a pictorial representation of collar protector 15 of FIGS. 2A and 2B and of collar protector 20 of FIG. 3. In the current figure it can be seen that collar protector 20 is initially formed from an elongated rectangular piece of material and that it may be combined and/or formed to conform in shape with that of collar protector 15.

Alternatively or optionally, collar protector 20 may be placed directly onto and conforming in shape with collar 10, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Collar protector 20 is shown in FIG. 5B in a soiled condition, before it is typically removed.

In all the configurations of embodiments of the collar protectors shown in the figures, the shirt may be worn with its collar closed or open. The material of the collar protectors allows for a comfortable fit and feeling, allowing protection the shirt collar not only at the position of the shirt collar normally contacted heavily by the user's neck, but also on the upper edge of the shirt collar, as described hereinabove.

Embodiments of the current invention address the problems identified hereinabove by configuring the shirt collar from substantially transparent material, preferably made from polyethylene (PE), the shirt collar covering the entire shirt collar, having matched sizes to fit a wide array of collared shirts. Embodiments of the current invention additionally include a material which is inexpensive, allowing it to be conveniently disposed after each use. Additionally or optionally, the material of the shirt collar is hypoallergic. Alternatively or optionally, a logo may be printed on a visible part of the collar protector, thereby having the collar protector serve additionally as a commercial and/or personal item of attire, for example.

It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A shirt collar protection apparatus for protecting a shirt collar of a wearer, the shirt collar having an upper edge, the apparatus comprising: a collar protector having a shape adapted to protect the shirt collar at a surface touching the wearer's neck and at the upper edge; wherein the collar protector is formable of one piece of material.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collar protector has a grasping lip, which is attachable directly to the shirt collar.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the collar protector is adherable to the shirt collar by means of a sticky surface on the collar protector.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the collar protector is made of a material chosen from the list including: polyethylene (PE); cotton; and polyester.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the collar protector is substantially transparent.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the collar protector has a color matching that of the shirt collar.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the collar protector is imprintable with a visible logo.
 8. A method of using a shirt collar protection apparatus for protecting a shirt collar of a wearer, the shirt collar having an upper edge, comprising the steps of: shaping a first collar protector from one piece to protect the shirt collar at the wearer's neck and at the upper edge of the shirt collar; attaching the first collar protector to the shirt collar using a grasping lip of the shirt collar; and replacing the first collar protector with another collar protector when the first collar protector is soiled.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereby the collar protector is adhered to the shirt collar by means of a sticky surface on the collar protector.
 10. The method of claim 8, whereby the collar protector is made of a material chosen from the list including: polyethylene (PE); cotton; and polyester.
 11. The method of claim 10, whereby the collar protector is substantially transparent.
 12. The method of claim 11, whereby the collar protector has a color matching that of the shirt collar.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the collar protector is imprintable with a visible logo. 